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The Numbers Don't Lie, Version 2.0: Don't Believe The Hype

The Redskins have been trying to sell this idea that they have reformed their ways, are now a smarter and better front office, led by Dan Snyder and Vinny Cerrato. They've got free agency figured out now, aren't throwing money around, yada yada yada.

As those of you who read the original The Numbers Don't Lie post already know, no one has spent as much or as poorly as the Redskins in pro sports this decade, with virtually nothing to show for it. And, as I've pointed out on here time and time again - in the face of what others are peddling your way - the Redskins are still a big-spending team, their free agency just came in February this year (nothing new there), and was followed up by silence in March for a change.

Rather than rebuild and really get younger and make tough decisions about when to revamp the roster, they annually try to buy their way out of bad contracts. Snyder coughs up millions to rework contracts, lowering cap figures while issuing new signing bonuses, thus continuing to throw more money at often older and injury-prone players, keeping his team together for that next great Super Bowl run ... the one that never comes.

Sure, they didn't spend anything on outside players - it was a poor market and they had very limited cap space - but let's not pretend things have truly changed. Guess which NFL team is currently second in the league in signing bonuses money paid in 2008, according to NFL Management Council numbers (which I obtain through league sources)?

Yep, you got it:

1 - Oakland Raiders - $53.8 million
2 - Snyder/Cerrato - $43.5 million (that doesn't even include another $5 million in option bonuses)

How can that be? The only outside free agent this signed was Jerome Mathis, and he didn't get a bonus? And of the few free agents the Skins re-signed (Alrbight, Fabini, Frost, Cartwright), only Todd Collins got a signing bonus ($3 million). Oakland, often in a misguided efforts, spent a ton bringing in WRs Javon Walker (with a huge deal) and Drew Carter, CB Duane Starks, C John Wade, DE Kalimba Edwards, T Kwame Harris, S Gibril Wilson, KR Tim Dwight, S Donovin Darius, QB Dunate Culpepper, G Cornell Green, OL Cooper Carlisle, RB Dominic Rhodes and others. They also re-signed DL Tommy Kelly to a ridiculously huge contract.

While this kind of spending almost never works - it's generally not good to be listed just below the Raiders in a football list of any kind these days - you can no doubt see where the money went in terms of new acquisitions.

And the Redskins, what did they get for $48 million (if you include option bonuses)? Well, they kept this team together for sure, but the bulk of the money is on guys who have been hurt a lot recently or are over 30, gambling that this again will be the year, even with a tough division, a squad that just did manage to run off a miracle stretch to win 9 games and sneak in, with a rookie head coach and an offense adjusting to another new system.

Eleven million in signing bonus went to star TE Chris Cooley - which only made sense given he was carrying a massive base salary that was designed to be converted to a bonus (and thus prorated for cap purposes). Lowering star T Chris Samuels base salary was another no brainer - they converted $3.7 million to signing bonus. Guaranteeing a $2 million roster bonus due to Andre Carter, 29 this season, the only proven pass rushing threat on the roster, made sense as well. Collins, 36, got $3 million, as noted.

But major risks were made as well.

T Jon Jansen, dogged by season-ending injuries, and someone who may be making way for a youngster in the next few years, received $4.2 million in signing bonus, with the Redskins already behind the 8-ball from that huge new deal they gave him in 2007. G Randy Thomas, who like Jansen will also be 32 this season and has battled season-ending injuries, got $4.6 million. WR Santana Moss, 29, - a player Snyder and Cerrato would rather be a No. 2 option at this point and who has struggled mightily with injuries in recent years, got $2.5 million in bonus money. Receiver Antwaan Randle El, 29, yet to put together a full seasons befitting a highly paid No. 2 WR, got $1.7 million. D Lineman Phillip Daniels, 35 this season, got $300,000.

And no one benefits more from the Redskins annual scramble to get under the cap more than favorite son Clinton Portis. The RB gets a new deal, with more upfront money, just about every year, and despite battling injuries and inconsistency and the normal mounting bruises that come from playing his demanding position in the all-out manner in which he approaches it, this was his best haul yet (agent Drew Rosenahuas more than earns his 3 percent when he sits down to negotiate with the Redskins).

Portis, who will be 27 this season, received $9.32 million in signing bonus in March. Not a bad haul at all. Oh yeah, and they also guaranteed his salary for the next two seasons and also guaranteed a big portion of his 2010 salary as well. In all, the Skins guaranteed $15 million to this guy through the 2010 season. He ain't going nowhere people, for quite some time. No other club in the league would touch that deal for most any running back at this point in his career, and especially not for someone who has needed half a season to find his legs and get his conditioning down in recent years.

How many of these guys will be healthy and really contributing in a year or so? What will Snyder and Cerrato get for their money? Should they have parted with a few more guys, finally shed some bad contracts and really made a commitment to more youth right now, with Gibbs gone? Does it make sense to keep throwing money at the problem year after year? Can't you do a combination of limited spending on free agency, and still keep most of your draft picks?

Guess that all remains to be seen.

But that's roughly what you get for your $43 million, with ample holes on the roster still to fill. What about in terms of good old committed cash - where do the Skins rank there in 2008? Don't worry, they're still 8th ($111.5 million) lumped in largely with teams that made big splashes in free agency (Minnesota, San Fran, Oakland), or clubs that signed franchise players to new massive deals (Arizona - Larry Fitzgerald, Pitt - Big Ben).

If the Redskins ever do convince the Bengals to deal Chad Johnson their way - and I hear $20-million guaranteed would be Ocho Cinco's magic number - then Washington would be right back in the top 5 in the NFL in committed cash, and neck and neck with Oakland in signing bonus spending.

Everyone I speak to sez that Cincy owner Mike Brown is as stubborn as they come and no way he's going to give in to the brash WR. Some agents and execs suggest that Johnson's best bet to get traded would be to make it seem like he's thrilled to be a Bengal, but I think we're past the point of no return on that as well.

Oh, and where do the Redskins stand towards the 2009 salary cap?

Well, they currently have $118.5 million committed to their top 51 players already (with a projected cap of $123 million). That ranks 28th in the NFL, folks, in terms of available cap space. Doesn't sound like anything new-and-improved to me, but then again, I am doing this without the aid of corporate lawyers, so what do I know?

In 20 years, we'll be looking at Snyder like the Oakland fans look at Davis. Only someone as stubborn and narcissistic as Synder could take a once proud franchise and turn it into a perennial laughing stock so quickly

Danny is praying for that uncapped year in 2010 to terminate all those extended contracts. Otherwise, the future outlook of this team is going to be cheap and ugly. But hey - the draft positions will be good every year!

This is Groundhog Day material man...everytime i come to your posts it always comes back to the same old story...can we find another angle to tackle please...WE GET IT! The Skins are not the best at using the salary cap. MOVE ON DUDE!

Good post, Jasno. I'm a homer for a long-time and I hate, HATE reading these posts, but the reality is that you're telling it as it is. My big question is why aren't these posts becoming full-length articles in the Sports' page the way the breakdown that you, Reid, and Maske did of the Redskins' at the end of the 2006 season? Is there no space at the post? Are your editors afraid of pissing off the Redskins' front office? Or have you not properly sourced your articles sufficiently for print edition, but ok for a blog? If it's the third, then yeah, this might be informative, but it's less-than-helpful. Otherwise, I'd really like to see this stuff make the print edition for credibility's sake!

Also, I thought Jasno was originally on the money about this season when he said that this is truly the first time that Vinny had complete control and that the proof will be in what this offseason's decisions yield.

i dont get the point fo this article? its basically a reshash of the other blog post and doesnt offer anything new. Jasno completely avoids the point of where the skins would be if the DIDN'T renegotiate with some of these players.

Because of past mis-management, we are FORCED to continue doing this, but to a lesser extent each year - and that is what we are seeing. if the skins had not dont ANY renegotiating this year, i imagine we would still be in the top 5 for signing bonus money. instead we're at 2 behind the raiders. MOST of the resigning/extending we did makes alot of sense. and since we are giving cooley this money now, it will lessen his cap hit later. The only dubious moves i see with the skins are the contracts with Jansen and Thomas.

when you look at our roster, we ARE getting younger every year and showing more fiscal responsibility every year.

The way i see it, its like someone trying to quit a serious alcohol or tobacco problem. you can do it one of two ways - go cold turkey and have horrible side-effects or gradually wean yourself off. In this case, we chose to gradually wean ourselves off. If we went cold turkey (i.e. not reworking any deals), then we would have to cut projected starters to stay under the cap. By reworking a fewer and fewer deals each year, the redskins are ensuring that this team has a chance to remain competitive, while still working towards the goal of building through the draft and not giving old guys tons of money.

Jason and I are looking at the same data but seeing entirely different things. Jasno's on a vendetta and i'm a homer. The course of time will show who is right.

Danny is praying for that uncapped year in 2010 to terminate all those extended contracts. Otherwise, the future outlook of this team is going to be cheap and ugly. But hey - the draft positions will be good every year!

Posted by: | April 21, 2008 1:40 PM

I think a contract is a contract and binds the parties who signed it according to its terms. The effect of the CBA lapsing would mean no salary cap (including no need to worry about accounting for dead cap space) or any of the other things in the CBA.

Our resident capologist has never done us wrong and i trust that he knows what he's doing here.

with the exception of a starting DE and a #2 WR, we have solid STARTERS on our team. All we really need is depth and we're getting that through the draft. I don't care if we push the cap to the limits every year - thats what its there for. This team is getting younger and getting further under the cap every year. what is Jasno complaining about?

On this draft thing coming up, and looking at some of the recent updates, it looks more and more like, when the Skins pick, the highest slotted unpicked guys are going to be OLBs and QBs (and maybe a RB or two). If that is how it turns out, I'm with whoever from the previous thread who said something about going for the best OLB available and relying on Marcus more to play DE.

WTF is the problem? You want them to blow up the team and start over when the Redskins have sooo much $$$ they can throw it at the problem until the uncapped year?

What's wrong with keeping together a nucleus of players that aren't problem makers?

How's that 13-3 Bmore record from 2 years ago working out for them today? I would say the Skins are in a better position today then are the the Ravens. And you said we need to take lessons from them......

There are the Jasno followers, and then the homers. . . but what about us in-between, who believe neither the Skins nor Jasno is right 100% of the time?

This is just another poorly formulated BS piece by Jasno.

Posted by: | April 21, 2008 1:39 PM

You my friend are the voice of reason.

Sorry JLC, but version 1.0 was bad enough. Now you're going to rehash the same old material? The funny thing is all these articles make me think that Dan Snyder is a saint. Please enough with the bashing of the front office. We're stuck with them, for better or worse. Might as well get used to it and hope they pull through. And it's not like they haven't done well in the past. We have two playoff appearences in the last four years and a pretty solid core of young guys as well as veterans.

Please if you're going to keep doing this, then let the other Jason cover the Redskins, while you switch and cover the Cap's full time.

2) Any meaningful analysis of these figures, including good and bad associations with the Raiders or any other team, can only begin in mid- to late- 2008. And even then, see 1).

Yeah, it sucks to have your team spend a lot and lose. But it sucks to have your team not spend and lose. And if you team spends a lot and wins, well, how much it spends is rarely mentioned. Other than as a source of schadenfreude when a big spender fails, looking at these numbers are informative in a general sort of way, but useless in prediction or justification.

good post. don't care that jasno looks like a broken record. people are waaay to quick to conclude that things have changed and the leopard has changed his spots. not true. i appreciate him keeping people honest. the skins are seriously screwed under the cap and will be for a long time... this offseason is a reflection of that, nothing more.

Why don't you get a new job, your a sports writer, may as well do something you like because you clearly don't like covering the Redskins anymore, its a shame, there was a time when you had the best blog in all of sports writing but now its just bitter crap!

STOP lying to yourself, you clearly no longer have interest in covering this organization in anything other then a negative light. Playoffs 2 out of the last 3 years, GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE.

Just because football teams and football players are mentioned does not make this football news. And it certainly does not make this insider info. Most of the Skins fans know how idiotic this FO has been since 2000 and that some of the biggest football bust were made by them, but have decided to move on to a more positive outlook for 2008.

How many times does Jasno have to beat this dead horse? I would actually welcome hockey news to more of the same salary cap issues that continue to be posted as "interesting blog threads".

Jasno has been a good source of info and during the season does a great job of keeping us informed but other than to rip the Redskins cap management (what's next, ripping the sun coming up in the east?) what was his point of this post?

I know he's not a fan, nor should he be as an objective journalist, but he's been increasingly negative the past few weeks, especially today. His previous post about the 'gaping holes' on the roster make us seem like the Dolphins rather than a team that just made the playoffs. If you're going to take the time to write this much, how about doing something useful and offer some suggestions of what he would do differently. It's easy to sit back and take pot shots, but if you're not offering anything back of substance he's nothing better than a local Skip Bayless!

Dr. Z says Rodgers-Cromartie only has one kidney. Conceding that he got to be a great college corner (maybe top CB prospect depending on the scout), what would it mean if he took a bad hit to that kidney? Does that mean he has to go directly to dialysis, do not collect $200? Just asking.

Also, mile high, are you out there? My weekend's home front jibba jabba was dominated by pleonasms. Great word. Hours of fun coming up with them. Thanks!

You can't agrue with it. He does have one and it's very clear. I can't wait for us to slap his team around. Wonder what BS he comes with then. Sure he will come up with some BS to say how great the Ravens are. He really needs to just move on!

Did he think the cap numbers were going to change overnight? Of course the '08 figures are high from the previous spending years.

With quoting '09 cap figures he's no better than Peter King or the morons who said we'd have to field 35 undrafted rookies in 2007 if they didn't reach a new CBA. There's a bunch of people (Jansen, Springs, Griffin, Daniels, Washington) who won't even be on the roster in '09 so why bother calculating that figure now?

stumped, jasno is bitter because the skins have "locked him out." He no longer has ANY sources within the organization, which impedes his ability to do his job as effectively as he used to. Because of this, he is bitter and continues to write negatively about them in his blogs. Its his way of "lashing back" at them.

As a 61 year diehard Skin fan,the front office to me is finally starting to use some patience and show some sanity.For the past few years on Comcast I have heard former players pleading to reinvest into our own guys and be choosy and thrifty in free agency.This year they finally do it and are getting flack for it.I applauded the patience they used in hiring a new coach.My gut tells me he is the right guy.The fact that they realized that our team was finally coming together at the end of the season and just needed a little tinkering is much more welcome than bringing in a 700 page playbbok guy when they appeared to have turned the corner that year.I believe Dan Snyder wants the best for this team and is learning from his mistakes.The good news is that Washington is a thriving money maker so we can afford to spend money if we want.Let the past be the past have faith and they will cover the cap problem by building with the draft and unsigned free agents.Look at our future young players they are showing promise.Have faith.Go Skins

Yeah,
I am a religious reader of the Insider. However, like many other posters, it depresses and annoys me to read articles like this. Although of course JASNO will deny this, he is basically saying to all 'Skins fans:

YOU ARE ALL UNBELIEVABLE IDIOTS TO ROOT FOR A FRANCHISE LIKE THIS. THEY ARE ALL COMPLETE MORONS AND YOU, LIKE THE TEAM, ARE LAUGHING-STOCKS.

That's my translation, anyway, of this post. So, like I have done many times in the past, I will stop reading this for a while, because as a season ticket holder, I'm going to try and have some optimism.

JLC is off his rocker. Instead of getting off his ass and doing some work, he's taking illogical pot shots at the team. Newsflash JLC. The contracts are DESIGNED this way. The Redskins design their contract with low base salaries, and numerous bonuses over the life of the contract. They are DESIGNED to have some of that money guaranteed at various points throughout the life of the contract if the player pans out. JLC is fully aware of this, and is just being a lazy tabloid blogger.

Here's a thought. Do some work on the upcoming draft. Get some quotes. Get some actual sources outside the Ravens' front office. Get the inside scoop on some of our prospective draftees.

Utterly ridiculous. If only this town had another newspaper that wasn't a joke, we might see some competitive motivation.

Okay, this really is starting to get old. Fine, the cap situation sucks. You know, the same way it has for the last 8 years (and that cap hell has never come). So what? We have enough money to sign 9 draft picks w/ some left over for free agents (from a class that, as you say, sucks). So what good was all that cap room going to do for us this year? The roster may be too old, but you aren't exactly making a case for any young guys that we should have signed to take over instead.

I thought the problem people had w/ Snyder wasn't that he spent money, but that he spent money on outside guys rather than our own free agents. Well, this whole post is killing him for spending money not on outside free agents, but on our own guys. Make up your mind.

Also, from what I recall, the comparison from v1.0 of this post of the highest spending teams (who, the point was being made, were getting much more out of their spending) included the Cowboys. Over that five year period, we are 1-2 in the playoffs; they are 0-3. So...

Is it your money he is spending ?? Are you bitter because you were called out about your other BLOG about Snyder's other business ventures.

Quot being such a baby and quit trying to dig up dirt like the Enquirer. It is his money and he can spend it anyway he wants and at least he puts it back into the team.

BTW...Portis had had over 1000 yards every season except the one where he was hurt because he was chasing down an intercepted ball. Most RB's would have not even chased the guy in a pre-season game. His pass blocking is outstanding...he gives all he has on the field.

Okay, this really is starting to get old. Fine, the cap situation sucks. You know, the same way it has for the last 8 years (and that cap hell has never come). So what? We have enough money to sign 9 draft picks w/ some left over for free agents (from a class that, as you say, sucks). So what good was all that cap room going to do for us this year? The roster may be too old, but you aren't exactly making a case for any young guys that we should have signed to take over instead.

I thought the problem people had w/ Snyder wasn't that he spent money, but that he spent money on outside guys rather than our own free agents. Well, this whole post is killing him for spending money not on outside free agents, but on our own guys. Make up your mind.

Also, from what I recall, the comparison from v1.0 of this post of the highest spending teams (who, the point was being made, were getting much more out of their spending) included the Cowboys. Over that five year period, we are 1-2 in the playoffs; they are 0-3. So...

Please explain why Jasno is bitter, he's not a Skins fan. There is nothing to be bitter about.

Posted by: Stumped (holding umbrella firmly) | April 21, 2008 2:15 PM

He's bitter because he doesn't seem to have any contacts that can provide him with valuable information. Personally I don't see the value of information coming from JLC during the season. Everyone gets the same injury reports, and the on field product lets fans judge for themselves. It's the offseason where things happen behind closed doors that we need an Insider.

Personally I'd rather JLC just focus on the pieces that are going to be in the paper if this is the type of stuff that he's going to use his blog for. The funny thing is I've been a huge JLC fan in the past. The guy was constantly feeding us information as recently as the coaching search and all that effort made me think this guy was the real deal.

Either way RI use to be a great place to learn about Redskin football in the offseason. Now it's just a place for JLC to vent about Snyder and friends, which as I said before, makes Snyder look like the saint.

Not to defend Jasno entirely but this is his point: the front office said they have changed through less free-agent spending. Scratch the surface a bit and you discover we've spent as much on in-house guys as other teams have on free-agents. Ergo, there's not much leg to stand on that Cerrato and Co. have really changed.

So I guess I toss the question back out: what evidence is there exactly that the Redskins have changed their ways if the principle players are all the same? All it's going to take is a few losses to reveal that Coach Zorn and Co. are just caretakers for Snyder to sign Cohwer in 2009. It takes just a little faith to believe that Cerrato, Snyder, et al. have really changed. Jasno's just providing some provacative food for thought.

If that is how it turns out, I'm with whoever from the previous thread who said something about going for the best OLB available and relying on Marcus more to play DE.

Posted by: dcsween | April 21, 2008 1:54 PM

Sween that was me. If Keith Rivers falls to us, we HAVE to take him. And given a choice between Merling/Harvey/Campbell (DE), Blamer (DT), and Mayo (LB), I would take Mayo and not think twice about it.

I was reading another analysis of the defense today (someone posted a link in the previous thread), and i think LB is an even bigger LONG-TERM need than DT or DE.

We're solid with Carter at RDE. We've got Griffen, Golston, Montgommery, for DT and Daniels can backup DT and DE or be in a rotation. Wilson can stop the run and Washington can stop the pass. I'm not saying I like our defensive line depth, but I like it BETTER than our LB depth:

McIntosh is not going to be 100% and has a degenerative knee condition. We simply can't rely on him being healthy enough to play. Fletcher and Washington are 33 and 31 (if i remember) and Washington simply cannot stay healthy. I'm hopeful for Blades but don't like the rest of our LB depth.

If we drafted Mayo, I would start him in place of Rocky until he was healthy and them have him replace Washington. Washington becomes a pass rushing specialist/ primary backup for all 3 LB positions.

Mayo is a beast and i think a better value than any of the guys i mentioned above. There are alot of sexy options for DT in the 3rd round too. (I think we MUST only go WR in the 2nd) Although if we do go with DT/DE in the 1st and WR in the 2nd (Hardy), I would love for us to take Gooden (Miami) in the 3rd.

As of right now, I feel we should go WR with our 2nd rounder and then draft LB, DL, and S with our other picks in the 1st 3 rounds, selecting the best player at each of those positions when our pick comes up... this is of course assuming we can't trade down.

If the FO did not change, we would have Hackett and maybe Javon Walker in camp this year. We would not have 9 draft picks for this years draft. How can you and Jasno say that we have not changed? We resigned our FAs that we thought were worth keeping and did not over pay. Rock is a good example of this.

And if either of you really believe that the cap has kept us from overspending, then you two are drinking something stronger than Kool-Aid!

FO's are made up of people. The only significant change in terms of personnel was the departure of Joe Jackson Gibbs. Otherwise, this is the same FO that traded away draft-picks and spent, spent, spent cash upfront. Jasno pointed out that they're still spending. A good argument can be made that the reason we even have draft picks this year is that Chicago didn't pull the trigger on a Lance Briggs trade and Cincy doesn't want to part with Ocho-Cinco. Otherwise, until we see some long-term action from the FO, I'm very skeptical that a few months of promises of change have actually delivered when it's still the same chefs in the kitchen.

Folks, it's a blog, not a news article. The constant bashing of the author is a bit tiresome.

I'm with Wilbon on this--this time of the year is a good time to take a break from the NFL. All the lawyer stuff--caps, contracts, bonuses, etc. etc.--well, I prefer to leave that to the lawyers involved. Frankly, the increasing 'newsworthiness' of this stuff has detracted from enjoyment of both the NFL and NBA, but that's life.

Is Jasno wrong to criticize the Redskins' strategy here? Well, it's his blog and he has an opinion. Some of the moves for the older, broken-down guys seem questionable, but they've obviously committed to keeping as much of the team together as possible for a two-year run or so. To me, it sounds like an overall sound strategy for an organization that performs mediocre-to-middling in the draft. If they drafted like the Steelers or Colts, I might have a different opinion.

Posted by: This use to be Jasno | April 21, 2008 2:49 PM
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Wilson can stop the run and Washington can stop the pass.

Posted by: talkshowhost | April 21, 2008 2:37 PM

Only in your dreams. Wilson is a designated pass rusher (fast but not big), and Washington is the same (also not big, and not very fast anymore either). Daniels? He is done done done. With only one bonafide defensive end (Carter), the Redskins' defense is going to be a disaster on the left side.

Yes, the linebacker situation is also a mess, but the Redskins need a real starting defensive end this year. Draft the line and make do with the linebackers you have this year. Or watch every team in the league run to their right successfully all year.

My Ravens prediction: Contrary to popular belief, if Matt Ryan does fall, he will continue to fall past the Ravens, who will wait for a lower round QB (if at all) while they tough it out with Boller and Heisman Trophy winner, Troy Smith. If they toughed it out with McNair, they will tough it out with those two.

These points have probably already been made, but here's my 2 cents:
1. Snyder has screwed up in the past but paying out on old contracts is no big deal.
2. What else could the Skins do but pay up? Can't even cut players when cap implications are so big.
3. The issue is new commitments; can't change the whole cap structure in one season.
4. Who cares that Snyder spends to the cap this year? He did the right thing to keep the existing team on the field.
5. We still don't know how blameworthy Cerrato is on past mistakes because Jasno hasn't done any reporting on who was responsible for each mistake.
6. The coverage we get on the Skins from the Post stinks.
6. I like the Zorn hiring; I like the FA approach this year; I'm willing to wait to see what happens in the draft/trades before going ape on Snyder/Cerrato.

The problem with the Skins hasn't been the amount of $$$ they spend. Honestly - who cares? They are in the top 5 grossing teams in the NFL. They are spending Snyder's funny money.

The problem has been in how they spend the cash and their balance between free agents and youth. Holding on to 9 picks with the anticipation of adding more by trading down is a good start. Until they draft replacements for the guys JLC mentions - why not pay them the cash to remain? - especially in a week free agent market?

The cap hasn't damaged the Skins because they have the cash on hand to convert contracts and pay out cash. The proof will be in the pudding now that they have picks on hand to see if they can do a better job in getting the right players on board.

You're wrong to assert that Gibbs called all the shots. First, he himself admitted that the decision were made among he, Snyder, and Cerrato. Second, Joe never said "he called the shots", but that he "took responsibility," as a "team president" should. Call it parsing, but Gibbs was careful in his choice of words. The fact is that we'll never really know how that trifecta made decisions.

Gibbs called all the shots. You can believe what you want, but it won't change the facts. If Gibbs didn't want it to happen, it didn't happen. Who in the organization would stand up to a HOF coach? That would be "no one".

We won't know whether they've truly changed their ways until a season or two or three have passed. Not signing a bunch of free agents this year was probably the only part of the equation that they could control. It sounds like they had no choice but to convert contracts to signing bonuses to get under the cap. They couldn't cut/trade Portis already because of the cap hit so all they could do was extend him to make his contract more cap friendly. That's probably the same with many of the other players they extended.

The point isn't to pick out a few examples of big spenders who have had relative success, or big spenders who have failed. There are examples on both sides. The point is proving a correlation between cap and winning. There are two schools of thought: the parity coefficient in the NFL has remained about the same since 1993; and, the parity coefficient has increased since 1993. Depending on who is right, it proves either 1) having spending limits has little to no effect on whether a team wins; or 2) setting spending limits increases parity. The first proves my point -- analyzing cap versus wins is pointless because spending doesn't necessary equal winning, nor does it equal losing. The second repudiates the correlation Jasno is trying to make -- that heavy spending is associated with losing. If parity has increased since 1993, then before the cap there must have been a higher probability of winning for the big spenders. Either way, the intented conclusion of associating the Raiders with the Skins (i.e., they're both losers because they spend too much) does not necessarily hold. Even if they end up being 30th and 31st in the league in wins next year, it does not hold as causual. I get the point Jasno is making -- the Skins brass says they changed their ways but look at their cap number. But the demand to "change" is based on the idea that spending too much toward the cap equals losing, which is proven to be not the case.

"And consider this: Washington left tackle Chris Samuels has been chosen for three straight Pro Bowls because he rarely gives up sacks. After missing the entire 2007 preseason with a sprained knee, Samuels stoned Taylor in the opener. However, Allen had three sacks, six pressures and two forced fumbles in his lone game against Samuels and the Redskins in 2005. That performance alone should make Snyder and Cerrato seriously consider making a deal for Allen."

If we think DE is our #1 need, its worth trading for... however, at what cost? The Vikes have a better 1st and 3rd round pick than we do and the Cheifs rebuffed that offer. It would take AT LEAST our 1st AND 2nd to get Allen... i just dont think its worth it.

That Gibbs is a HOF coach is a fact. So what? The team and the money aren't his, so I'd say Snyder has plenty of reasons to stand up to him. My point isn't to say you're wrong, but to ask where your evidence is that Gibbs called all the shots other than bare suppositions and assertions?

That GM in KC, Peterson, is some kind of a nut job. He messed around with that Trent Green trade last year and looks like he is doing the same thing with Allen this year. And KC finished 5-11? 4-12? Time for Peterson to swallow his phony pride and take the offered deal while he still can to get benefit from it this year (by way of additional draft choices). If he's lucky, he will draft well and get to keep his job next year.

EAGLES TO MAKE A MAJOR MOVE AT RECEIVER?
Posted by Mike Florio on April 21, 2008, 3:00 p.m.
Last month, the Philadelphia Eagles made a run at two of the dozen (or so) elite NFL receivers who command the attention of at least two defensive players whenever on or anywhere close to the field.

The Eagles were unable to lure Randy Moss, a free agent at the time, away from New England. Efforts to swing a trade with the Cardinals for receiver Larry Fiztgerald were unsuccessful as well.

But there's another high-end wideout who might ultimately be coming to Philly.

GCobb.com (which has been nailing many an Eagles scoop this offseason) says that Eagles radio analyst Mike Quick says he thinks that the Eagles "will make a major move" at receiver this week.

Apparently, the Cowboys and the Redskins are in the hunt as well.

Williams, one of the rare first-round wideouts chosen by the Lions during the past decade who has turned into a solid player, is signed through 2008. But with receiver Calvin Johnson, the No. 2 overall selection in 2007, entering his second year and commanding a big chunk of cap space, the Lions have to ask themselves whether they should get try to get value for Williams now, or face losing him after the coming season. (They could also put the franchise tag on him and then trade him, but they would need roughly $10 million in cap space on the books in order to carry his one-year franchise tender until a trade would be worked out.)

For the reported suitors, the stakes are very high. Whoever doesn't get Williams will have to face him twice per year.

The proof that Gibbs was in charge of everything was everywhere. You have to be blind not to be able to see that. Snyder brought Gibbs in to recreate the organization of the 80s - not so Snyder could tell Gibbs what to do. There was only one problem.

Snyder - over his head
Gibbs - over the hill
Cerrato - over the rainbow

Qualifications:
Must hate Redskins, Must see glass as half empty, Must love Capitals and the Ravens, Dont like to do research and talk to real sources, must be able to make up on sources, must love the wire.

If we think DE is our #1 need, its worth trading for... however, at what cost? The Vikes have a better 1st and 3rd round pick than we do and the Cheifs rebuffed that offer. It would take AT LEAST our 1st AND 2nd to get Allen... i just dont think its worth it.

Posted by: talkshowhost | April 21, 2008 3:03 PM

talky:
agree. allen's not worth high draft picks and a high salary. i'd be happier to build mainly through the draft. allen was a 4th rounder.

Go watch the Skins/Cardinals game and watch London Fletcher flying 5 yards into the end-zone with a convey of players you say are too old. See if it doesn't give you goosebumps. Maybe it might even make you a little bit of a fan.

I didn't see too many wholes that game and the defense was a beast! As a matter of fact they only rushed 3 guys and got in Warner's face forcing him to throw the ball early.

You are viscious brother...let the man get through a draft first. Yes, this team has made many mistakes, but at some point they have to get a clean slate. I thought they got one when you told everyone to hold judgement until after a season or two.

What should the Redskins be doing if what they are doing is not right?

++++stumped, jasno is bitter because the skins have "locked him out." He no longer has ANY sources within the organization ...Its his way of "lashing back" at them.

Posted by: TALKSHOWHOST | April 21, 2008 2:19 PM++++

Let's say, for point of argument, your premise is correct. His sources have left and he's bitter.

So what? When you;REe right, you're right. And unless you have FACTS to the contrary, instead of your standard whiney contrarianism, his analysis is accurate and disturbing.

I happen to agree that "Spend Lot$ for Old Guys" doesn't work anymore. Worked great in the George Allen era, back when his kid was filling his diapers with Macaca,.

But now, with the cap, the best teams have figured out the philosophy that works much better. The Pats, the Colts, the 'pokes, and last year's SB champeen Gints all drafted well, and supplemented with FAs for which they refused to OVERPAY.

So they have the Moss's and the TO's and the Redskins have ended up with Arch and Receiver, The.

I know many, including me, feels that the Starters for the redskins could contend to go deep in the playoffs if they are INJURY FREE.

But did anyone NOTICE what happened last year? OLD GUYS get hurt. Their all-proish players went down. Jansen, Thomas, Moss, Griffith, Portis. All have been paid a ton, none played a whole season.

Could the skins get lucky this year? Sure. But that's not the way to bet.

And if Dan and Cerrato trade for Ocho-Cinco, the process starts all over again.

Jasno may be bitter but to my mind that was a decent piece of Bloggage. And since the only REAL news is speculating who the 'skins will draft--an unknowable--so much the better

SAMEULS - AT LEAST 5-6 GOOD YEARS LEFT
RABACH - 5-7 GOOD YEARS LRFT
THOMAS - 5-6 GOOD YEARS LEFT
JANSEN - 2-3 GOOD YEARS LEFT
KENDALL - 1-2 GOOD YEARS LEFT

Posted by: Anon | April 21, 2008 3:21 PM

Your assesment is interesting. Rabach is 30 and plays center. I just don't see him going at this level until he is 35-37. I like Randy, but again I don't see him playing at the same level until he is 37-38. Samuels is a tackle and I definitely don't envision him playing OT at 35-36. Those wheels of his will be worn for sure. Maybe he'll be a decent guard. Most great tackels can adapt to that role if they're willing.

Whatever... yet another negative article about the Skins front office practices. They have to pay their players. And you need to get over the fact that NFL teams convert salary into (guaranteed) roster bonuses. Seems like a smart practice given the existing structure of the salary cap. It's a win-win situation for both the players and the team. Yes, it costs the ownership real money each year (which some owners are not willing to pay), but (for the most part) they tend to keep their talent instead of getting compensatory draft choices or nothing in return.

I'm not sure the point of this rant? Are you saying the Skins should blow up the team and cut every player who has either a high salary or is over 30? Accept the dead cap space and then draft a bunch of rookies to take their place?

BTW, the facts show the Skins actually had significantly more free agency/trade hits than misses over the past three years...

Didn't the Redskins only beat the Cardinals because the Cardinals kicker missed a last-second field goal after Warner moved them down the field quickly in the last two minutes?

Posted by: Nona | April 21, 2008 3:31 PM

Your missing the point... The energy on that defense was great, the offense put them in bad positions as they normally do most of the game, the point was that they old guys played pretty darn good and strong! I think they are worth the price paid. I wouldn't trade london fletcher for any other MLB out there and he is aging.

"As those of you who read the original The Numbers Don't Lie post already know, no one has spent as much or as poorly as the Redskins in pro sports this decade, with virtually nothing to show for it. And, as I've pointed out on here time and time again - in the face of what others are peddling your way -"

Have you lost your mind? Since when is 2 playoff appearances in 3 years an unsuccessful team? And don't give me that "Miracle Stretch" crap either.

Anon, I'm not sure if you've been following Pace and Ogden, but these dudes are BROKEN. Ogden really, really was considering retiring last year, but he was enticed to return due to the 13-3 record the Ravens finished with the year before.

Pace is another one. But to me he seems he wants to leave on his own terms and not let a injury nudge him out the door. My point is that the days are gone that you let someone who has been a cornerstone for you retire when they want, while eating the cap at the same time. Jerry Rice is the first that comes to mind in regards to this.
I'm not sure if Samuels would be given the chance to still compete at that OT spot by the time he's 35+. Hopefully by then, the skins would've drafted his replacement.

Last month, the Philadelphia Eagles made a run at two of the dozen (or so) elite NFL receivers who command the attention of at least two defensive players whenever on or anywhere close to the field.

The Eagles were unable to lure Randy Moss, a free agent at the time, away from New England. Efforts to swing a trade with the Cardinals for receiver Larry Fiztgerald were unsuccessful as well.

But there's another high-end wideout who might ultimately be coming to Philly.

GCobb.com (which has been nailing many an Eagles scoop this offseason) says that Eagles radio analyst Mike Quick says he thinks that the Eagles "will make a major move" at receiver this week.

Apparently, the Cowboys and the Redskins are in the hunt as well.

Williams, one of the rare first-round wideouts chosen by the Lions during the past decade who has turned into a solid player, is signed through 2008. But with receiver Calvin Johnson, the No. 2 overall selection in 2007, entering his second year and commanding a big chunk of cap space, the Lions have to ask themselves whether they should get try to get value for Williams now, or face losing him after the coming season. (They could also put the franchise tag on him and then trade him, but they would need roughly $10 million in cap space on the books in order to carry his one-year franchise tender until a trade would be worked out.)

For the reported suitors, the stakes are very high. Whoever doesn't get Williams will have to face him twice per year.

Taxes are too high! The President lies! Immigration must be controlled! Nuclear energy produces un-disposable wastes! Africanized bees are coming!

Complaining about a Jasno thread is alot like that ... valid points but nothing you can do about it. Kind of like complaining about gravity (although, in its defense, its not just a good idea, it is the LAW).

My only problem with Jasno's thread (which I only skimmed) is the caption ... what exactly is the "hype" I'm supposed to have been lead to believe? The "lessons learned" thing? I don't really consider that a "hype" ... a meme, maybe, but not a hype.

I am so tired of people saying the Giants drafted well. this is a joke. the only reason they say this is because their starters got hurt and they had to play. it amazes me when people look like geniuses after the fact, if they go to dallas and lose with the same players then we would be talking about there depth problems. everybody has a good draft it is just when do you give the players you drafted to perform and do what you drafted them to do. i can go on all day about players that were drafted and did not get a chance with the team that drafted them but went somewhere else and became a superstar ( Priest Holmes). The redskins have superstars in the waiting just let them play. only the non athletic media can sit back an say if we miss the playoffs the redskins are idiots, but we make it and it is a miracle season.

Jasno, Are you just using the copy and paste method for your posts? This type of post is getting a little old, why don't you try typing up something we actually don't already know for once, JUST ONCE! (sorry about the capital letters!)

Love Jason's blog and agree with a lot of what he says on most points but his point here makes ZERO sense to me.

His point seems to be one year of being conservative in the FA market hasn't nullified the previous years of profligate spending. Well, yeah, who would expect otherwise? And it proves nothing to me.

It would be like saying the government finally took the national debt seriously by reducing the deficit this year -- but since reducing the deficit this year didn't wipe out the years of prior debt in one fell swoop it means that the idea that the govt reduced the debt this year is false and an illusion.

Yeah the Skins were conservative this FA and the fact that JLC points out that this one year didn't wipe out the prior years of big spending -- OK, makes sense to me is JLC trying to say that don't trust what we've seen by the Skins this off season and they were secretly spending money hand over fist on FA and secretly signing players we don't know about yet?

The hype referred to in the title, sween, might be the "anti-anti" stuff which was posted up here, all the comments saying (at various volume/outrage levels, and employing various colorful epithets) that Jason was wrong (in one or more senses) with his original Numbers Don't Lie thread.

I live in Tampa, but grew up in DC. The Tampa Tribue has 2 pages each day devoted to the Bucs draft coverage. Skins fans are 100 times more knowledgable than Bucs fans and aren't nearly as fickle. Come on Post...By the way JLC does seem a little jaded in this piece, but the truth hurts and maybe it will make people stop and think.

I guess he has no new news and I believe they are not letting get any so he bashes and bashed...great "Redskin Beat" reporting..next post will be to rant they signed Deion in 2000.....oh but keep bragging on the OTHER teams that have spent a ton in FA last few years..Umm The Browns...its good for them and predicted to be good..Oh yeah how bout those cowboys..media loves to brag on them when they soend tons on FA...It's just the Skins who get the bad wrap...

Get over it and START REWPORTING ON FOOTBALL NEWS ABOUT THE TEAM LIKE YOUR SUPPOSED TO!

When I listen to what Vinny says, I hear him say that they did not spend this year because there was no one to spend on. He also says if there is someone that can help the team they will do everything they can to go get him. I have never heard Vinny say they are not going to spend in the future. Snyder also says that they will always spend their cap room. Does anyone else hear this, which negates Jasno's opening sentence?

This guy really has it in for snyder/cerrato. I thought journalism is supposed to not be biased but I forgot this is the washington post.
Nothing about the redskins being the 2nd most valuable franchise in the world. We may have sucked wind for the last 15+ but no one can say snyder didn't do what it takes it to win and my money (not this year) is that we will eventually return to superbowl glory.

I'm curious to know, what is eveyones perecption of the guys who were added either during the season or after it? I know you probably shouldn't count on these guys to make a significant impact or the roster for that matter, especailly since most of them have been axed already. But some, when you look at them on paper look like they could be players.

Anthony Mix - I think he'll surprise the masses.

Billy McMullen - 6-4? 215? Where did he come from. Whats all the receiver talk when you got a 6-4 and 6-5 guy? GIVE THESE DUDES A CHANCE. A real one.

Alex Buzbee - Heard about him last year. What's his chances this year. Has he progressed?

Tommy Davis - Never heard of this guy. But I like his size for the DE position. 6-4, 270 pounds.

John Eubanks & Byron Westbrook - Don't know abou Eubanks, but heard of Westbrook due to association. How are they coming along?

Matt Sinclair - ???

I'm not saying forget the draft, but it looks like (On paper) that there are some guys already on the roster, if giving the chance to compete can probably make the team and contribute. Maybe with all the rookies coming in these 3 yr. nobody vets (sorry) will have a little extra to give this summer.

Agree to disagree ... if you can agree to disagree that being anti-Snyder is not anti-Skins.

[Maybe this is unrelated b/c its about baseball ... and outdated b/c the guy has since become invisible, but was it ever OK to love the Yankees if you hated Steinbrenner? Or, perhaps more relevantly, do Raiders fans have to pledge allegiance to majority shareholder, Al Davis, in order to be Raiders fans?]

Red f/the DMV, I think all of the evaluating needs to wait till those guys do more than lift weights, run sprints, climb ropes (does anybody do that other than wrestlers?), throw medicine balls (did anyone ever do that?), maps, such as ...

Also, last we heard of John Eubanks, he had angry infected toe and an angrier attitude toward beat reporters ...

"I am so tired of people saying the Giants drafted well. this is a joke. the only reason they say this is because their starters got hurt and they had to play. ..."

Posted by: great one | April 21, 2008 4:00 PM

When they were pressed into service they performed and performed well. Can't argue with results. Kind of like HB Blades playing well at LB when McIntosh got hurt. Dallas Sartz on the other hand didn't make it out of training camp. The skins have enough holes that they can't afford to draft guys that can't make the team.

Sween,
There is a long, time-honored tradition of fans biting their tongues to support the team, regardless (or if you prefer "irregardless") of team management, mismanagement and general insanity. Disrepective (or if you prefer "irrespective" ) of where you stand vis a vis Messiers Snyder and Cerrato, as fans we must make soft cooing noises that will enable our chief executive and owner's rabachs feel happy and swollen. Like it or not (and who likes it), it is our duty.

Maybe the point I'm missing is why the fans have any obligation (perceived or otherwise) to make the ownership and the vinnyship happy. Isn't it them who are supposed to make the fans happy? The fans pay them. And, in return, they accept the fans' money. Seems straightforward enough.

You say Gibbs has an offense that cannot perform in today's NFL...I say Clinton had a 1,500 yard season...a franchise record...the same year that Tana' put up 1,500 yards in receiving (another franchise record)...

I have to say, I hate their uniforms. I liked the baby blue eagle thing. This current throwback stuff is ugly, mostly because it reminds me of my childhood following the team and being constantly disappointed by them.

My whole take is salary cap or not, the players make too much. The owners make too much. And the fans pay too much. I am tired of paying $120 for a ticket and parking to watch a 9-7 team. With inflation rising it will give Danny Ceasar another excuse to raise it more. The whole league is going to have issues if this raping of fans continues, rookie salary cap or not.

Quick - News Coming On Roy Williams
Written by Garry Cobb
Mike Quick who is the analyst for the Eagles games with Merrill Reese says there will be news about Roy Williams before the week is out.
Mike Quick says he thinks the Birds are going to make a major move at the wide receiver position. He talked about Roy Williams and the potential that the Eagles will make a deal to acquire a wide receiver. He says there will be news on Roy Williams before the week is out.

That means the Cowboys, Redskins or the Eagles will probably wind up with the receiver before the week is out.

Mike just finished doing a live interview in a webcast with G. Cobb and Steve Martorano from Infiniti of Westchester and he says the Birds will try to do something this week. They're in a bidding a war right now.,

When asked about the Birds fear of being upstaged by the Phillies, Flyers and Sixers, Mike said he believes the Eagles are going to do something this weekend to take back all the attention.

I'm with Jasno on this one. The money has to be spent on youth. Yes we have 9 draft picks, but even if all 9 are NFL quality, we can't keep them all cuz our roster is chock full of guaranteed injury prone veterans. Yes we've made the playoffs 2 out of the last 3 seasons, but did anyone think we seriously had a shot at going to the Super Bowl? Or even the NFC Championship Game? I didn't.

We can't simply be happy with being a first-round playoff team, otherwise we'd be Wizards fans.

UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR UNCAPPED YEAR

Speaking of the Caps, they are young and upcoming, with a roster full of 20 somethings, so even if they lose this year (in the first round) their future is bright. They have been frugal in spending recently, and finally have a roster of young players who they can spend lavishly on to keep together for the next 3-4-5 years.

I've been lurking for a while waiting for some real news and haven't seen any. I have gotten a little tired of JLaC so I decided to send him an email (as some of you know I like to do when I read things by journalists I don't agree with.) Everyone of them has responded thus far. Let's see how Jason stacks up. Here is a copy of the email that I sent:

I've been a contributor to this blog for a little while now and a couple things bother me. This is a Redskins blog yet you continually bash them, ease up. It seems that you don't have any real inside info which leads me to believe that people in the building don't trust you. Numbers do lie when you skew them to fit your point of view. I could give you 1000 reasons why your last post could be incorrect but why bother (I really don't know what the front office has learned if anything, I bet you don't either since it seems they won't talk to you). Heck, it doesn't even seem like you read the contributions that your bloggers make. Give it a rest. I have an idea, go work for a Baltimore newspaper.

You have left Ellis, Clady, Rivers, Gholston, Albert, Harvey, Mayo, Mckelvin, Cromartie, Jenkins, Otah, Chris Williams, Merling, Talib, Flowers, Sweed, Kelly. That alone, plus the top 5 and Mendenhall, and Stewart makes 25. Id be happy with almost any of these guys, at least 4 or 5 have to fall to us, there is gonig to be plenty of talent left at 21

I'm with Jasno on this one. The money has to be spent on youth. Yes we have 9 draft picks, but even if all 9 are NFL quality, we can't keep them all cuz our roster is chock full of guaranteed injury prone veterans. Yes we've made the playoffs 2 out of the last 3 seasons, but did anyone think we seriously had a shot at going to the Super Bowl? Or even the NFC Championship Game? I didn't.

We can't simply be happy with being a first-round playoff team, otherwise we'd be Wizards fans.

Posted by: SMC_Redskin | April 21, 2008 5:15 PM

I didn't think that we were a Superbowl team. But I didn't think the Giants were either.

He would make a nice 3rd, late 2nd round if we could maybe trade back into the second round.

Dre Moore
DT | (6'4", 305, 4.839) | MARYLAND

Scouts Grade: 78

Strengths: Though still needs to improve ability to shed blocks quickly, plays with a mean streak, has above-average upper body strength and made progress in this area during senior season. Takes adequate angles to the ball, has adequate range and makes the occasional play in pursuit. Doesn't do a great job of anticipating the snap but is quick and can disrupt the occasional play in the backfield. Did a better job of using hands to protect legs and improved ability to fight over cut blocks during senior season though is still somewhat inconsistent in this area. Keeps head up and flashes the ability to sniff out screens. Has some experience lining up over tackles and is versatile enough to move to end in a 3-4 two-gap scheme. Played just one season of high school football and is still a little raw but has made strides and should only continue to get better with added experience.

Weaknesses: Plays too high, hasn't shown great lower body strength and can get driven back. Lacks elite size though has the frame to bulk up, plays with a narrow base and can't anchor against double teams at this point. Appears to gear down when sees other defenders get to the ball carrier and effort is inconsistent. Takes too long to read keys when teams run at him and gets caught out of position at times. Appears stiff in space and is an inconsistent open field tackler. Lacks ideal lateral mobility and doesn't set blockers up to the outside before redirecting inside. Lacks ideal closing speed and can be step slow getting to the quarterback. While intercepted a pass last year, frequently fails to get hands up when isn't going to the quarterback and doesn't always time jumps well.

Overall: Moore arrived at Maryland in 2003 and redshirted the year. In his first three seasons (2004-'06), he appeared in 31 games (13 starts) and recorded 77 tackles (nine for losses) and 4.5 sacks. As a senior in 2007, he started all 13 games and finished the season with 63 tackles (8.5 for losses), six sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. Moore is a developmental prospect who lacks ideal athletic ability, is inconsistent and needs to work on his technique as well as his instincts but he steadily improved at Maryland and he has the size and burst that NFL teams covet at the defensive tackle position. He projects as a late first-day pick consequently.

You make clear post after post how badly you HATE the Redskins and their management (not that I blame you on their management, but can you give the axe grinding a break once in a while? please?). I'd prefer to see a little unbiased coverage or, at worst, a "homer" rather than post after post by a vile spitting hater. You really make it miserable to follow this team. Sure, I'd say most fans agree with the possibility that Snyder might be a complete immature jerk (I've never met the man but I'm sure to acknowledge it), but some of the fans would like to gain any small vestige of HOPE they can from the local paper instead of diatribe after diatribe after diatribe about how the team is doomed.

While typing out your blog, just don't pretend that:

1. You don't come across as thinking you could obviously do better in every single facet of running the team

2. You don't look to accentuate the negative (for example, completely minimizing the fact that the Skins made the playoffs 2 of the past 4 years and instead focusing on the entire Snyder era - we've HEARD YOU ALREADY - WE WERE THERE - WE KNOW) every chance you get and cast every move in the worst possible light

3. A rabid monkey couldn't get a billion readers on a Redskins blog on hosted at washingtonpost.com

I don't know what the Post thinks about your work (they've kept you around so they must like you or pay you a lot less than we think), but thanks for depressing the fans and turning off readers! But sincerely, thank you for the actual information sprinkled into your agenda. And good luck getting your dream job blogging about crappy music and a professional Baltimore-based soccer team.

Sincerely,

"Now looking forward to the day Canfora retires as much as the day Danny sells"

You make clear post after post how badly you HATE the Redskins and their management (not that I blame you on their management, but can you give the axe grinding a break once in a while? please?). I'd prefer to see a little unbiased coverage or, at worst, a "homer" rather than post after post by a vile spitting hater. You really make it miserable to follow this team. Sure, I'd say most fans agree with the possibility that Snyder might be a complete immature jerk (I've never met the man but I'm sure to acknowledge it), but some of the fans would like to gain any small vestige of HOPE they can from the local paper instead of diatribe after diatribe after diatribe about how the team is doomed.

While typing out your blog, just don't pretend that:

1. You don't come across as thinking you could obviously do better in every single facet of running the team

2. You don't look to accentuate the negative (for example, completely minimizing the fact that the Skins made the playoffs 2 of the past 4 years and instead focusing on the entire Snyder era - we've HEARD YOU ALREADY - WE WERE THERE - WE KNOW) every chance you get and cast every move in the worst possible light

3. A rabid monkey couldn't get a billion readers on a Redskins blog on hosted at washingtonpost.com

I don't know what the Post thinks about your work (they've kept you around so they must like you or pay you a lot less than we think), but thanks for depressing the fans and turning off readers! But sincerely, thank you for the actual information sprinkled into your agenda. And good luck getting your dream job blogging about crappy music and a professional Baltimore-based soccer team.

Sincerely,

"Now looking forward to the day Canfora retires as much as the day Danny sells"

Posted by: Fed up with Canfora blogs | April 21, 2008 5:47 PM

Why did you post that here? He doesn't actualy read this blog anymore. Send it to his email.

We all know this guy can't write anything substantial anymore. The Times has had much better Skins coverage for months now, and it's gotten even better this offseason. I know I'm tired of reading this crap from this lazy ass. No more posts from me here, and maybe when more of you join me, the WP will get us someone who can ACTUALLY COVER THE REDSKINS for a change?

Come on, these aren't free agent signings so much as players selling commodities, in this place cap space for the upcoming season. What should the Skins have done to get under the cap? How does cutting Jansen help them? How does keeping the inflated salaries help?

You can't hold the sins of the past against present action. Are the Skins still fools for the giant salaries they promised? Perhaps, but that's not on them this season. They needed space. They're not so much overpaying free agents as paying vets for cap space, which only these vets had to sell.

What disappoints me is the lack of fair framing for this blog entry. It's not impartial. These are not facts; they're facts with slant. Talk to me about options and why the renegs in Feb suck *in that context*. If you want to give opinion, great. I enjoy reading it. But make a good, solid argument.

Life long Redskin fan since 1973. Jason you are dead on right! I know that's hard for some of us in Skin Nation to accept, but the failure to acknowledge the legitimacy of the front office ineptitude can only be because were in a state of denial.

When you take a step back and temper your emotions, it's hard not to come to the same painful conclusion as JLC.

Above someone suggested that Jonathon Ogden and Orlando Pace were evidence that Jansen and Samuels and others can play forever, since those guys are just now considering retirement and they are 36-37. Ogden is 33. Pace is 32.

You would also be the first to critisize the Redskins for dropping their current "older players" in order to draft younger talent, saying we have essentially thrown away another season.

I see nothing wrong with keeping the team intact. Bringing in new players is nothing but rebuilding and does not aid in team chemestry, as players have made it known that they have felt like they were mistreated by the organization.

Or we could always be the Eagles and listen to their players when they say "hey we need a playmaker." Oh wait....

Say something positive about this team for once. The bottom line is Snyder kept the team together by keeping the players we have, showing he has faith in them, and did not go out and make a big splash in free agency. Sure there have been mistakes in the past, no one is denying that, but what are the skins supposed to do, dump all of their old players this year, bring in a bunch of rookies and hope we are as competitive as we have been? The upcoming draft will tell us quite a bit and hopefully will begin to give us the youth we need.

Good article Jason. This is still a bitter pill to swallow, but really some of the criticism of this post shows that a lot of Redskins fans still don't get it or simply refuse to see it.

Now I have sympathy with the idea that the Skins were forced into many of these deals because of past errors and therefore less can be concluded from these deals in terms of fiscal responsibility, however, it's also true to say that there remains very little evidence of improvement, which I think is the point of your article. It's also possible to argue that, where the Redskins did have some options, they simply chose to repeat the old pattern.

I think all Snyder/Cerrato apologists, that so easily forget what a couple of brain donors these guys are, should accept their fare share of the blame for perpetuating the "next year will be the year" notion that's haunted this team for a decade.

If I was in the Redskins Organization... I wouldn't like the Washiington Post either. At every turn someone is taking shots at the team. They spend to much, they didn't spend this year but they did in the past so nothing has change.... Give me a break. So what. We just came off of a playoff season and we (the Redskins if you didn't know) are looking toward another playoff run this year.

I really think JLC needs to find a new beat, since he's obviously tired of reporting on the Skins. I seriously doubt he has any reliable sources left in the organization, and all his so called NFL sources I'm sure are from the Ravens. I'm all for objectivity, but this team is coming off a playoff season, and we beat 4 playoff caliber teams in a row to reach the playoffs. I'm not saying we're going to the Super Bowl next year but I think we'll be pretty damn good. Time for JLC to move on and Jason Reid to take over.